[Necrosis of the tongue as a clinical manifestation of giant cell arteritis].

An 83-year-old male patient presented due to a 3-week history of swelling of the tongue with tongue pain on eating, yellowish plaques, and a gray-brown lesion in the anterior portion of the tongue. Sudden loss of vision in the left eye and temporal headache occurred 3 days before presentation. Due to elevated C‑reactive protein, sonography of the supraaortic arteries as well as positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed. Imaging revealed inflammation of the great arteries as well as a halo sign on ultrasound of the temporal artery. Thus, a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis with necrosis of the tongue was made. Immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids was initiated. Necrosis of the tongue is a rare manifestation of giant cell arteritis that requires immediate immunosuppressive therapy to prevent further complications to the tongue (e.g., complete necrosis of the tongue, superinfection, tongue amputation).
(© 2023. The Author(s).)